lacee lambert, jaime loewen, andrew park, ian stewartsociety. our group of four scholars, lacee...
TRANSCRIPT
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Lacee Lambert, Jaime Loewen, Andrew Park, Ian Stewart
A.R.T.S., Inc.
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Liz Montague
English 2010: Section 58
21 November 2011
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Introduction
In the past decade, the performing and visual art have become less incorporated in
society, and more specifically, in education. In educational environments, such as school, the arts
have been subjects to detrimental budget cuts due to increasing global financial hardships.
Another reason the arts have become a less emphasized aspect of modern day education is
because the school boards and districts place a heavier weight on the importance of a
conventional academic education. The arts need to take a more essential role in education
because areas, such as music, are scientifically proven to improve learning abilities in students.
One solution to the erosion of arts in school is to encourage students at a young age to
become more active members in the art
community. For example, learning a musical
instrument and participating in the local or school
band will enhance a student’s desire to continue
contributing and participating in the arts. Other
things that could encourage students to partake in
artistic activities include giving the students more
opportunities to experiment in different areas of
the arts. For instance, providing classes in
elementary school that investigate and examine all
areas of the visual and performing arts could
encourage students to continue in the arts and
enrich the lives of the students and those around them. The mission of education is not only to
AJCB “AJCB U15 Ceili Band ” Atlanta Irish
Music School. 2009. Jpeg file.
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provide a broad academic education and to offer training in a specific trade or discipline but to
generate individuals devoted to the enhancement of society. Service learning combines
community service and education to create a format of learning that not only gives students
knowledge but teaches them how to practically apply the concepts they learn in the classroom to
society. Our group of four scholars, Lacee Lambert, Jaime Loewen, Andrew Park, Ian Stewart,
are participants of such a service learning course. Because of our shared passion for the arts in
education, we decided to create a group dedicated to supporting the fine arts. In our search for an
appropriate community partner, our group discovered a nonprofit organization designed to keep
the arts in school called A.R.T.S Incorporated.
Problem Analysis
“In an education system strapped for money and increasingly ruled by standardized tests, arts
courses can seem almost a needless extravagance, and the arts are being cut back at schools
across the country” (Winner and Hetland 1).
Are arts really that important? This is a
question that both educational professionals and
politicians are currently asking themselves. Do
they serve a purpose, or are they just a “fluff”
class that takes up space in the states already
shrunken education budget? The arts serve a
vital purpose in shaping the ways that humans
in modern society think and in the ways that our “Cerebral Cortex” Introduction to Psychology 1st
ed. by Charles Stangor and Jessica Carey. Flatworld
Knowledge. 2006. Fig. 3.7 Jpeg file.
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brains function.
In a study by Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland, the
research found that the arts serve a more valid and
quantifiable purpose than creating emotional pleasure
and/or raising test score: “We found that arts programs
teach a specific set of thinking skills rarely addressed
elsewhere in the curriculum . . . ” (Winner and Hetland
2). They included habits such as determination,
expression and communication, and making clear
connections between schoolwork and the world outside
the classroom. Other habits identified were observing,
envisioning, innovation through exploration and reflective self-evaluation. This whole range of
skills is important not only in education but also through society in a wide variety of jobs and
professions. “The first thing we
noticed was that visual arts students
are trained to look. . . perceiving the
world accurately… [and] seeing
clearly by looking past one’s
preconceptions is central to a variety
of profession, from medicine to law
(Winner and Hetland 2).
Additionally, music and the
arts help develop a student’s outlook in life and their self-confidence. As stated by music
“Holiday Celebration” South Pasedina’s Children’s Orchestra
(SPCO). 2009. Jpeg file.
“Robinson Crusoe” Southeastern
Louisiana University’s Missoula Children’s
Theatre. 2008. Jpeg file.
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professor at Fern Creek Elementary school, “the arts can also improve a student’s entire outlook
on life” (Maxwell 1). Furthermore, the arts help students connect things they are learning in the
classroom. “Patterns in an arpeggio have similarities to sequences in math. Unique color names
enhance vocabulary. A student moved by the music of ‘Les
Miserables’ suddenly wants to know more about the French
Revolution” (Maxwell 1). With the help of the arts, students
can also make connection between the classroom and the
world. “Students are taught to see their projects as part of the
larger art world, past and present” (Winner and Hetland 2).
The arts can even help affect the ways in which we
interact with one another. Edward Pauly, the director of
research and evaluation at the Wallace Foundation, which
finances arts education, said that “the arts can promote
experiences of empathy and tolerance” (Pogrebin 1). In
learning to observe the world in a more
accurate manner as well as learning to
“engage in reflective self evaluation,”
we become more open to and accepting
of change (Winner and Hetland).
Students are given the tools they need to
observe and understand the world in
response to a specific piece of art.
Indeed by preparing them or not, we “Live Model” Lynn Forbes Gallery School of Sculpture.
2009. Jpeg file.
Banks Photos “Boy Covered
With Paint”
www.iStockphoto.com. 2010.
Jpeg file.
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impact more of the world than just the sphere that we live in. “For students living in a rapidly
changing world, the arts teach vital modes of seeing, imagining, inventing, and thinking (Winner
and Hetland 3).
This phenomenon can even affect the future of the work place. In 1996, Patrice Apodaca
interviewed John Hughes, president of Rhythm & Hues, a computer graphics company that
specializes in movie effects. Apodaca’s goal was to show off the lack of art education was
depleting the amount of experienced artist entering the work force. Hughes commented that it
was drastic enough that he had to supply about half of his work force with professionals from
overseas. With the increase of the special effects field in recent years the demand for these
qualified individuals is ever increasing. “…digital effects executives uniformly lament that they
are increasingly forced to recruit overseas, mostly because American Schools have not provided
even the most fundamental arts curricula” (Apodaca 2). This is only one example of how
eliminating the arts from education can seriously impact the daily lives we live.
Proposal
A.R.T.S., Inc., Artistic Recourse for Teachers and
Students, travels to elementary schools in various districts in the
Salt Lake City area to support and promote the arts to the schools
and their students. “The organization auditions and schedules
professional groups or individuals, who prepare and present a
variety of programs to instruct, entertain and motivate children in the
fine arts areas” (artsineducation.org).
“A.R.T.S., Inc. Logo”
www.artsineducation.org. 2010.
Jpeg file.
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In an effort to support A.R.T.S. Inc. in the following weeks, our group will interview
teachers and elementary students about the presentations given by the company. Additionally,
the group will construct a survey analyzing the presentations given by A.R.T.S Inc. The
information obtained in the survey will be used on the A.R.T.S Inc’s. website to inform the
public about the company and to endorse the non-profit organization to schools who may be
considering scheduling presentations for their students because it demonstrates that students
benefit from the arts. Additionally, by implementing the results of the survey, the project could
increase the effectiveness of the presentations given by A.R.T.S., Inc and how the audience
receives the information.
The group will do the following:
Join A.R.T.S., Inc. as the company travels to elementary schools.
Write a questionnaire for the students evaluating the presentation in areas such as
the entertainment and informational value of the presentation and how the
students feel the presentation will affect their role in the arts.
Prior to the presentation, our group will present a short dialog for the elementary
students introducing A.R.T.S., Inc., and our group will administer the survey at
that time.
The information gathered from the questionnaires will be used to improve
A.R.T.S. Inc. productions and to promote publicity for the company.
Benefits and Conclusion
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The intended benefit of our project is to provide A.R.T.S Inc. with improved surveys that
will allow the company to
increase the effectiveness of their
school presentations. The group
will accomplish this through
using data collected from our
new surveys. What's more,
A.R.T.S Inc. is not the sole
beneficiary of this project.
Additionally, the children will
benefit by watching role models and being introduced to the arts, possibly for the first time. This
introduction will generate an interest in the arts and thereby perpetuate the dying arts in
education. As proven through research, when students become involved in artistic areas, such as
music programs, the student’s brain is able to develop and connect in a manner that promotes
intelligence and deep thought.
In conclusion, our group hopes to fulfill our civic duties by helping A.R.T.S. Inc. enrich
the lives of children and the lives of all individuals in society. By increasing arts in the school,
students will be receiving an opportunities to learn, grow and improve the world.
Bill Chambers Design “Nicole Makram shows a child how to play the
violin” Camelia Symphony Orchestra. 2011. Jpeg file.
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Works Cited
Apodaca, Patrice. “Effects Firms Decry Lack of Arts Education,” Los Angeles Times
13 Oct. 1996. Web. 23 Sept 2011.
A.R.T.S., Inc. “About Us”. http://www.artsineducation.org/about. 2010. Web. 19 November
2011.
Langer, Susanne K. “The Cultural Importance of Arts” M.F. Andrews (Ed.), Asthetic
Form and Education), 1958. Print.
Maxwell, Scott. “Arts in schools: Proven recipe for success” Orlando Sentinel
29 May 2011. Web. 13 Sept 2011
Pogrbin, Robin. “Book Tackles Old Debate: Role of Art in Schools” New York Times
4 Aug. 2007. Web. 11 Oct 2011.
Winner, Ellen, and Lois Hetland. “Art for our sake: School arts classes matter more than ever –
but not for the reasons you think” Boston Globe 2 Sept. 2007. Web. 13 Sept. 2011